Silas Qayaqjuaq was born in 1956 in Hall Beach into a family of artists; both his parents, Joanasi and Martha Kayakjuak, were established carvers. He was introduced to carving at a very young age, learning by observing relatives at work. By the age of eight he had begun carving himself, and by twelve he had already created his first substantial piece.

His work reflects a natural artistic ability, combined with a strong sensitivity to balance and movement in the human form. Drawing on his lived experience of hunting and life on the land, his sculptures convey a distinctive sense of warmth and immediacy.

His work reflects a keen interest in the human figure: “… I carve people in movement and everyday life. My father used to carve animals, and he used to say that all his life, he’d looked at people’s faces and, after all those years, he’d never learned to carve the face. I challenged him and started carving people in movement, balanced and [pursuing] their lifestyle.”*

In the late 1980s, Silas relocated to Ottawa, where he dedicated himself to carving on a full-time basis until his death in 2024. Today, his works can be found in collections around the world and have been selected as gifts for a wide range of recipients, from international dignitaries to figures in the arts and private collectors.

In 1999, one of his stone sculptures was included in the exhibition Northern Rock: Contemporary Inuit Sculpture at the McMichael Canadian Art Collection in Kleinburg, Ontario.

*quote from “Silas Qayaqyuaq Wants to Share Ideas With Other Artists”, Inuit Art Quarterly, Spring, 1995, p. 25.